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How much seepage is enough to replace toilet tank bolts?
What signs around the tank-to-bowl bolts are worth acting on before there’s an obvious leak? I’m especially unsure how to weigh visible corrosion or slight tank movement against the risk that loosening old hardware could damage brittle parts.
Do you look for moisture around the bolt heads and beneath the tank, or is there another useful clue? And if the connection is dry and stable, is preventive replacement generally worthwhile, or does it make more sense to leave it alone? I know bolt and gasket designs vary, so I’d also be cautious about assuming a replacement set will fit every toilet.
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2 replies
I’d take recurring moisture around the bolt heads or under the tank more seriously than surface corrosion by itself; corrosion can be visible without showing that water is currently escaping. A change in tank movement is a reason to be cautious, not to force old hardware tighter. If the connection stays dry and stable, I’d monitor rather than disturb it preemptively, especially when the hardware and tank design are uncertain.
For a hypothetical toilet with visible bolt corrosion but a dry connection and a tank that stays stable, I’d leave the hardware alone and keep an eye out for moisture rather than spend on parts that may not fit. Recurring dampness or a change in movement would make me reassess; I wouldn’t try to solve movement by tightening old bolts.
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